Program Offerings
We’ve been there.
Being a successful screenwriter is incredibly difficult. For every script produced, thousands never find their way into being read by a studio representative. Writing in the entertainment industry is a tough business, and all the more so because writing itself is such a solitary practice.
Mentoring
We have a mentoring program where one of our team members (or a third-party screenwriter with whom we contract) will advise up-and-coming screenwriters. At no cost to the writer, the mentor will provide advice and make available resources for the screenwriter to help them with their craft. The mentor will look over the script as it progresses and prepare it for coverage. Once the coverage results are obtained, the mentor will thoroughly review the comments and score and see how to make the screenplay even better. The writer will have a trusted and valued companion as they advance in this challenging career.
Scholarships
Our scholarships help defray screenwriting costs which can add up quite rapidly—especially when using a premium coverage service. Riveting River has a variety of scholarships available. The scholarships can cover any combination of steps in the screenwriting process, including:
- The initial review: (Valued at $49)
- Multiple rounds of coverage: (Valued at $149/round)
- Multiple refinements: (Valued at $449/round)
A Comprehensive Scholarship is valued between $500 – $1000 (depending on the number of review rounds) and at no cost whatsoever to the recipient.
Internships
Each Spring, we encourage students to apply for a Summer Internship. The deadline for Intern applications for next summer is March 31st, 2022.
Our Interns for 2021 are Mira Seagrave (mentored by our Creative Director, Michael S.Malone) and Maxwell Saponara (mentored by our Operations Director, Donald James). Our entire team welcomes them and looks forward to giving them insight and new understandings of the entertainment world.
Mira Seagrave
I was born and raised in California, as well as spending some time living in New York. My mom co-owns her own publishing company and has always pushed me to invest time into whatever my current interest is. I spent most of my elementary years playing various sports, particularly soccer, then was a dancer for six years from age nine to age fifteen. My family has always been extremely supportive of my artistic pursuits; many of my family members (particularly my cousins) have inspired me to do what I want with my art, and be my most authentic self. I love spending time with my friends, listening to music, and playing sports.
I am a future University of Oregon cinema studies major, and I plan to make a living as a screenwriter, and eventually learn how to direct. This internship is important to me because it’s my first opportunity to be in a professional setting that is centered around what I want to spend the rest of my life doing. I’m excited to form new connections and learn as much as I can. My goal is to take what I learn from this internship and apply it in college as well as in my pursuit of a career in film. I want to be able to write any genre I can think of and constantly be doing something different.
Maxwell Alexander Saponara
I am a Comedic Arts Major at Emerson College. My family is a bit quirky. Half are Lithuanian Royalty (I’m part of The Bear Clan??) and the other half are scientists from Northern New Mexico. I grew up here in the Bay Area, spending most of my free time performing in plays and musicals. When I wasn’t running lines I was writing my own scripts, screenplays, and stories.
I’ve been fortunate to have broad experience from an early age—on stage as an actor, working with actors as a playwright and director, and have both filmed and edited my own projects in my school’s Multimedia Academy. I’ve learned that through it all that writing for the stage and for film is my passion. This internship will give me hands-on experience and exposure to professionals in the field, and I’m excited to film with the rest of the crew later in July!
Sponsorships
There are a variety of ways to sponsor budding screenwriters with multiple ways to be rewarded in return. Please contact us if you would like to assist a creative person who is pursuing their passion. As a sponsor, you’ll get to watch as the screenplay unfolds and, if all goes well, you’ll even have the enjoyment of seeing the script become a reality as it is made into a TV series or feature film.